Run To Paradise

What happens when an Australian childhood collides with Samoan heritage?

Run To Paradise is named after The Choirboys’ 80’s classic that we all grew up with. My vision for this project is to pay tribute to my childhood, growing up in Melbourne and Brisbane as an Australian girl with Samoan heritage – sometimes awkwardly – and learning to love being a little bit different to the other kids.

During my early years, Mum and her sisters had pretty flamboyant style. Between trying to teach us how to dance like little Samoan girls, they disco danced their way through the 70s and 80s without a care in the world, or at least that’s how they made it seem, and how they made me feel. Rapturous. So, of course they were my first style icons.

Music. Our anchor.

Copyright Run To Paradise

Mum

The Rea Family

On the other hand, my sister and I tortured Dad endlessly listening to 3XY in the car, and our Sunday nights were spent watching Countdown at Nanna & Pa’s, entrenching a deep love for Aussie music, Molly Meldrum and OTT glam rock costumes. Music was, and always has been my anchor. Why wouldn’t I name the brand after one of my favourite songs?

Run To Paradise captures the fun & frivolity of an island escape, without having to leave our real lives in the big smoke. Follow @runtoparadiseau as I develop my first limited run of accessories dropping this Summer.